Conveyer chain and attachment therefor



3 SheetQ-Sheet l INI/FNTORS. h ua pyi 5W1 T H. J. SWIHART ET AL- CONVEYER CHAIN AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR Filed 001;. 26, 1959 Dec, 23, 1941;

Dec. 23, 1941. H; J. SWIHART ET AL I 2,267,510

. CONVEYER CHAIN AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR Filed Oct. 26, 1939 v s Sheets-Shej: 2

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DecL 23, 1941. H. 11. SWIHART ET AL 2,267,510

GONVEYER-QHAINAND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR o Filed 001:! 26, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet s J INVENTORS. Hm HY Eva/1mm?" 5505 55 W. BAKE-'2 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 23, 1941 ooNviiYEa CHAIN AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR Harry J. Swihart and George W. Barry, Hazel Park, Mich., assignors to Allied Steel and Conveyors, Inc., Detroit, Mich. 1

Application October 26, 1939, Serial N 0. 301,352

15 Claims. (Cl. 198-177) This invention relates to conveyor chain systems and particularly to an improved form of conveyer chainand associated parts.

An important object of this invention is to provide a conveyer chain system which is smooth and rapid in operation, which will carry considerably more loads than conveyer chains heretofore used and which is economical to manufacture and easy to assemble and take apart. A particularly important feature of the invention is the provision of an improved type of pin and the manner of assembling the same upon the trolleys of the conveyer chain which not only connects the overlapping endsof the links of the chain together but also serves to carry the loads advanced by the conveyor. feature of the invention is the provision of a new form of link for the chain conveyer which is easily disassembled and'assembled together on the pins but which cannot cause the pin to turn or slip out in use. 7

Various objects, advantages apparent from the specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the chainnconveyer constructed in accordance with this invention, r

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional vie'w'along line .22

of Fig. l,

disconnecting the pins from the link of the conveyer chain, I

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a section of the chain trolley showing a new form of trolley construction and the manner in which the links shown in Figure 1 are installed in a chain conveyer system heretofore used in the art,

Fig. 10 is a View along line Ill-It of Fig. 9,

and 1 Fig. 11 is a view in elevation of a new form of p n.

- Fig. 12 is a top View of a modified form of chain conveyer constructed in accordance with this invention.

Referring particularly to the drawings, 9.

Another and meritorious features of this invention will become more fully track or rail upon which the trolleys travel is shown at Hi. It is of the usual I-bar construction. Trolleys shown at 12 are each formed of side arms or brackets I l-l4, each carrying a stub shaft 16 upon which a roller I8 is mounted. The arms l4-I4 extend from opposite sides of the track and arejoined together beneath the track by bolts l9 and nuts 20. This is the usual construction. As is clearly apparent, the rollers bear on the lower ledges of the track and the trolley is free to roll thereunder.

The bottom marginal portion of each arm I4 is deformed outwardly at corresponding positions to one another and as shown in Figs. 1

l d and 2 form a collar 22 which is adapted to encircle the neck of a pin 24 which depends from the trolley. The arms are apertured just above the collar through which a headed portion of the pin extends as will be described hereinafter.

,A pin of the character shown at 24 is associated with each trolley as shown. Each pin is ,ment to the arms of a trolley and for carrying loads conveyed by the conveyer.

Referring particularly to Figure 5 where is shown a single pin of the type employed in this invention, the opposite ends are provided with Q outer and inner heads, the arrangement of the heads at each end being the same so that it will make no difference which end is secured to the trolley. The inner heads 28-28 are so located on the pin that they fit into notches provided on the links as will be more particularly described arms of the trolley.

hereinafter. The outer heads 30-30 are spaced from the heads 28-48 to form neck portions 32--32.

Either end of the pin may be secured to the When properly secured thereto, the collar formed by the arms will encircle one of the neck portions 32. The adjacent head 28 will extend through the aperture in the arms above the neck portion and project laterally from opposite sides thereof as Figure 2 4 pairs with the pins extending through overlapping ends of adjacent pairs of links. Each link when viewed alone comprises two straight end sections 34 and 36 connected by an inclined or jogged section 38 as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The link isslotted longitudinally and is crossed by a strengthening frame member 46 formed integrally with the material of the link. The side of the link adjacent one end is provided with two spaced projections or lugs 42-42 facing toward one another and forming a transverse notch 44 as Figure 4 shows. The opposite side of the link adjacent the other end is provided with a projection or boss 46.

As shown in Figure 1 the links are assembled in pairs with the sides carrying the bosses 46 facing toward one another. The jogged character of the links enable the notched ends of one set of links to overlap upon the opposite ends of the next adjacent set of links. Figure 1 shows the links in properly assembled condition on the pins to form a flexible conveyer chain. As thus assembled the pins 24 extend through the slots in the overlapping end portions of the links and couple the pairs of links together. The bosses 46 on the inner end sections 36 of the links bear upon the enlarged circular central portions 26 of the pins. The outer end sections 34 of the links fit between the inner end sections 36 of the next adjacent set of links and the inner heads 28 of the pins. The spaces between these two elements throughout the chain length is less than the combined thickness of the link and the lugs 42-42 but slightly greater than the thickness of the link at the notch 44. When properly assembled the heads 28-28 of the pins seat in the notches 44 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and thus positively couple the links and pins together against separation during conveyance of loads by the conveyer.

To disassemble the links and pins, one pair of links is collapsed toward an adjacent pair of links. This causes the bosses 46 of the inner end sections 36 of one pair to ride off the projecting central portion 26 of the pin as shown in Figure 8 When this has taken place the outer end section 34 of the overlapping pair of links can be drawn toward one another sufficiently to bring the lugs 42-42 inside the heads 28-28. In this position the pins can be rotated until the heads of the links extend longitudinally in alignment with the slots of the link. The pin, however, cannot drop through the slots in the links in this position because the circular central projecting portion 26 is wider than the width of the slots. The links, however, in this position are suificiently loose so that first the outside links and then the inside links can be spread apart beyond the ends of the pin. The opposite radial faces of the projecting portion 26 of all the pins are preferably inclined slightly to facilitate swinging movement of the links to lift them off of the heads 28 and 36 of the pins. It will be found, however, that only one link at a time can be spread sufficiently to lift the end off of the pin. The looseness of the parts, however, is such that after the link has been lifted off the end of the pin it may be turned to one side before another pin is lifted off.

The same steps are pursued but in reverse when the links are assembled on the pins.

In Fig, 1 two forms of load supporting devices are shown for carrying the loads advanced by the conveyer. It is understood that other forms of such devices may be used if desired. One especially desirable device for this purpose is in the form of a hook 56 shown alone in Figures 6 and '7. This hook is provided with two spaced hooking arms 52-52 which as shown in Fig. 2 fit about the lower neck portion 32 and bear upon the lower head 36. The lower end of the book may be shaped in any desirable way to carry loads, such as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or that shown in Figs. 6 and '7.

An important feature of the invention is the fact that the pins which couple the links together also carry the load of the conveyer. The trolleys thus support the load through the pins depending therefrom. If hooks of the type above described are used, it is possible to load an article on each link connecting pin. This provides twice as many load supports per conveyer chain as heretofore generally used.

Certain modifications of the invention are shown in Figs. 9 to 11. The arms of the trolleys in Fig. 1 are usually formed in a metal casting operation. In place of cast arm members, relatively thin sheet metal plates 56-56 may be used 5 the character shown in Figs. 9 and 10. These thin plates are similarly formed but arranged opposite to one another. Each plate is bent as shown in Figure 10 to jointly form a yoke which straddles the rail in. Carried on the upper ends of the plates are rollers similar to rollers l8 previously described which bear upon the lower flange of the rail. The side marginal portions of each plate may be turned perpendicular as shown in order to strengthen the plates. The plates 56 are each formed preferably under die pressure with an arcuate tongue 58 extending crosswise to the body of the plate but in spaced relation thereto to form a slot 66. Holes 62 are punched in each plate for the reception of a bolt and nut similar to that used in the form shown in Fig. 1. The plates 56-56 are used with a new form of pin 64 shown in Fig. 11. This pin is similar to that previously described except that the beads on one or both ends form a solid block 66 through which a hole 68 is formed. It is clearly evident from Fig. 9 that the tongues 58 of the plates are inserted through the holes 66 of the pins from opposite directions and are immovably held against withdrawal when the nut and bolts extending through the holes 62 in the plates are tightened.

Occasionally it is desirable to insert a series of the new links in an old form of conveyer chain. The assembly in Fig. 9 illustrates how this may be done. An old form of a single slotted link as shown in Patent Number 1,397,131, having enlarged apertured heads is shown at 16-16 at the opposite ends of the figure. It may be assumed that the balance of the conveyer chain not shown is of this form. In order to insert a series of links and pins of the type described herein, spacer rings 12-12 are disposed on opposite sides of one of the enlarged heads of the old form of link. These spacers are of such a thickness that when the notched end portions 34 of two of the new links are arranged on the outside thereof as shown at the left end of Figure 9, the notches 44 of these links are capable of interlocking with the heads 66 of the new pins 64. At the opposite end of the chain length inserted, the end sections 36 of another pair of links of the new type are capable of abutting against the opposite sides of an enlarged end of an old form of link 16 as shown near the right end of Fig. 9. Instead of providing depending bosses 46 on the end sections 36 of the links they are shaped with spaced lugs 14-14 similar to lugs 42-42 forming transverse notches adapted to receive the heads of a pin 16 of the old type. Aided by links having notched end sections 36' lti-is a. matter of a few minutes to install a chain length of. this. invention betweenthe broken ends of chain lengths heretofore used.

, For heavy loads requiring two trolleys for support the device shown in the middle ofFig. 1 may be used. It is formed of-a bar H having a depending flange; 13. The bar is apertured at the opposite ends to'be fitupon the threaded ex-,

the links and pins previously described. The

links are like those in Fig. 1 and are referred. to by the same reference numerals. The pins are shaped with novel form of rollers which allow the conveyer to travel in an almost frictionless manner over surfaces or rails. The enlarged or projecting portion 26 of the previously described pins serve in this capacity. Instead of being fixed to the pins the circular projections and prefer-- ably separate elements are freely rotatable on the pins. The rotatable members are indicated at 80. They preferably surround a bushing or roller bearing indicated at 82:.

The rollers 80 are of such a thickness that the in turn removably positioned on they pins in any suitable way suchas cotter pins 96.

What we claim:

1. A chain conveyer comprising, in combination, links arranged in pairs each having longitu- :dinally slotted straight end sections connected by an intermediate angular section disposing the straight end sections in offset but substantially parallel planes, one side of each link adjacent one end thereof provided with lugs forming a transverse notch, the opposite side of the link adjacent the other end provided with a boss, each pair of links being arranged with the'sides of the end sections having the bosses facing toward one another and extending in less spaced apart relationship thanthe other end sections of the links, pins connecting overlapping ends of adjacent pairs of links, said pins havinga projecting portion intermediate its ends wider in every direction than the slots in the links upon'which the bosses of one adjacent pair of links bear, the ends of said pins provided with heads longer in one dimension than in another andbeing of a size to seat in the transverse notchesof the other adjacent pair of overlapping links.

2. A chain conveyer, comprising, in combination, a plurality of links of the same construction arranged in pairs with their ends overlapping, each link being jogged intermediate its length so that its end sections extend in differentbut substantially parallel planes, each end section of links are spaced sufficiently todispose the outside end sections 34 of the links in position to receive the heads 28 of the pins in their respective notches. In operative position the bosses 46 on the inside ends of the links bear on the rollers 80 l but like the preceding embodiment of the invention the bosses are capable of being slipped ofi the rollers for detachment by collapsing the links upon one another.

Frequently, conveyers of the, type which run Another form of pin having a threaded extremity 88 is shown in, the middle of Fig. 12. The head 28' instead of being formed integral with the pin is received upon the threaded portion of the pin. Either one or both ends of the pin may be constructed in this manner.

If the conveyer of the type shown in Fig. 12. is used alone the single rollers 80 are not usually suflicient to keep the chains from falling to one. or the other side. At spaced intervals in the chain length it is desirable to provide two or more rollers on a pin which support the conveyer in upright position. Such a construction is shown at the right end of Fig 12. The pins at these points in the length of the chain extend beyond the heads 28-28 to serve as stud shafts for supporting rollers such as that shown at 90 which run along flat surfaces or flanged wheels. such as the link being slotted longitudinally, pins extending through the slots in the overlapping ends of.

the adjacent pairs of links and connecting the same together into a chainlength, said pins each provided with an enlarged portion between the inner end sections of the links through which it extends and being of such a shapethat in no matter what position the pin is turned relative to the links the enlarged portion cannot fit through the slots of the links, the inner end sections of the overlapping pairs of links on the pins provided with projecting bosses bearing: upon, the enlarged portions of the pinsand acting to space the inner end sections outward therefrom, said bosses so formed that when the links are collapsed upon one anotherthe bosses ride oil the projecting portions of the pins enabling the inner and sections of the links to be drawncloser together, heads on the opposite ends of the pins, and the outer end sections of the overlapping pairs of linksbeing shaped with notches receiving the heads of the pins and releasably interlocking thelinks together. 7

3. A chain conveyer, comprising, in combination, a plurality of links of the same construction arranged in pairs withthe ends of adjacent pairs overlapping upon each other,fieach-link having longitudinally slotted straight end sections connected together by a jogged section which disposes the endsections offset with respect to one another, pins extending through the slots in the overlapping end sections of adjacent pairs of links and connecting the same together into a chain length, said links being arranged on the pins with the end sections of onepair of links inside the end section of the adjacent overlapping pair of links, projecting portions on the pins between theinside end sections of the links having a size preventing withdrawal of the pin through the slot in any position it maybe turned relative to the links, bosses carried on the inner end sections of the linksbearing upon the projecting portion and spacing the inn-er end sections therefrom, said bosses being of such a shape that upon collapsing adjacent pairs of links together the bosses ride off the projecting portion of the pin extending therethrou-gh-enabling the inner end sections'of the links to be drawn close together, and means carried on the opposite ends, of the pins adapted to interlock with the outer end sections of overlapping pairs of links when the bosses of the inner end sections of the links bear upon said projecting portionsbut being re-. leasable from interlocking engagement when the links are collapsed suificiently to cause said bosses to ride off the projecting portions.

4. A chain conveyer comprising, in combination, a plurality of links of the same construction arranged in pairs disposed opposite one another and with the ends of each pair of links overlappin-g with the ends of the adjacent pair of links, said links being slotted longitudinally adjacent their opposite ends, pins extending through the slots in the overlapping ends of the links con-' necting adjacent pairs of links into a chain length, said pins provided with heads on their opposite ends, the outermost links on each pin being shaped to receive the head of the pin and hold the latter against bodily lengthwise movement in the slots of the links, and a central projection on the pin wider than the width of the slots in the links no matter to what position the pin is turned relative to the links, the innermost links on each pin being shaped with bosses which when the chain length is extended bear on the central projection of the pin and cause interlocking engagement between the heads of the pin and the outermost links but when the chain length collapses sufficiently will ride ofi the projection and allow disengagement of the heads of the pin from the outermost links.

5. A flexible conveyer chain comprising, in combination, a plurality of links of the same construction, each link having longitudinally slottedj straight end sections connected together by a jogged section disposing the straight endsec tions in substantially parallel planes offset to one another, said links arranged in pairs with one end section of each pair closer together than the opposite end sections and with the opposite ends of each pair of links overlapping upon the ends of the adjacent pair of links with the closer end sections thereof inside the other more separated end sections of the adjacent overlapping pair of links, a pin extending through the slots of the overlapping end sections of each adjacent pair of links and connecting the same together into a chain length, external transverse notches on the outer end sections of the links, heads on the ends of the pins receivable in said notches to lock'the pin against bodily movement in the slots of the" link, internal bosses on the inner end sections of the links, and a circular projection on the pins between the inner end sections of the links having a diameter too great for it to pass through the slots, said bosses bearing upon said projec tion and spacing the end sections of the links toward the end of the pins to thus position the notches for receiving the heads of the pins, said bosses adapted upon collapsing of the links together to ride off said projections on the pins and allow both the inner and outer end sections to draw together and free the heads of the, pins from the notches.

6. In combination with drive chain links having longitudinal slots therein and arranged in pairs with the ends of adjacent pairs overlapping, one another, a coupling pin extending through the slots in the overlapping ends of the links and connecting the same together, said pin having a head" on each end thereof receivable in notches in the outermost ends of the links on the pin, andian' enlarged projection on the pin midway between the heads having a shape preventing it from passing through the slots in the links in any position to which the pin may be turned relative to the link's.

7. In combination, a conveyer trolley, a pin for co-nnectinglinks of the chain, said pin having a pair of laterally extending heads on the opposite ends thereof, the heads of each pair being spaced apart and connected together by a relatively narrow neck portion, said trolley provided with a collar adapted to embrace one of said neck portions for suspending the pin therefrom, and article attaching means adapted to embrace the other neck portion of the pin and suspend articles from the pin. 8. In combination, a conveyer trolley formed of 'a pair of members having spaced apart end sections carrying rollers and juxtaposed end sections secured together by fastening means, a pin for coupling links of the chain having a pair of heads'on one end spaced apart from one another and connected together by a relatively narrow portion forming a neck, corresponding marginal portions of the juxtaposed end sections of said members being deformed laterally away from one another and cooperating to form a collar adapted to-embrace said neck portion of the pin to attach the latter to the'trolley.

9. In combination, a conveyer trolley formed of a pairof plates having spaced apart end sections carrying rollersand juxtaposed end sections removably fastened together, a pin for coupling links'of 'a conveyer chain, 'said pin having an enlargedhead provided with an aperture therethrough, said plates of the trolley each provided along one edge of the juxtaposed, end sections with a tongue, the tongues of said plates arranged with the ends-facing toward one another and adapted'to be passed through the aperture in said head of the pinfrom opposite sides thereof to secure the pin to the trolley.

10. A pin for coupling links in a drive chain having a circular central projection intermediate its ends, and a pair of heads on each end thereof connected together by a narrow neck portion.

11. A conveyer chain link having straight end sections connected together by an angular section disposing the end sections in parallel planes offset to one another, one side of the link adjacent one end thereof provided with a pair of lugs forming a transverse notch, the opposite side of the link adjacent the other end thereof provided with a boss, said straight end sections being longitudinally slotted and the slots extending into the notch at one end and into the boss at the other end.

12. A conveyer chain link-having straight end sections connected together by an angular section disposing the end section in parallel planes offset to one another, one side of the link adjacent one-end thereof provided with a pair of lugs forming a transverse notch, the opposite side of the link adjacent the other end thereof pro- 1 vided with a boss, said straight end sections being longitudinally slotted and the slots extending into the notch at one end and into the boss at the other end.

N13, Incombination, a pin. for coupling links chain suspended from a conveyer trolley,

the lower end of said pin provided with a pair of spaced apart heads connected by a relatively narrow portion forming a neck, and an article attaching means having a hooked portion provided with a longitudinal slot wider in width than the thickness of said neck of the pin but less than the thickness of the lower head of the pin, the slot of said hooked portion adapted to receive the neck of the pin and thus support the means upon the lower head of the pin.

14. In a conveyer mechanism, a plurality of track engaging members, a plurality of links of the same construction arranged in pairs disposed opposite one another and with the ends of each pair of links overlapping with the ends of each adjacent pair of links, said links being slotted longitudinally adjacent their opposite ends, a plurality of pins each extending through the overlapping ends of two adjacent pair of links connecting all the links into a chain length, each pin carrying an enlarged portion between the ends of the inside links thereon having such a dimension in all directions laterally that in no matter what position the pin is turned relative to the links the enlarged portion cannot fit through the slots thereof, the ends of the inside links on each pin provided with bosses bearing on the enlarged portion carried by the pin and spacing the link therefrom, said bosses so shaped that upon collapsing the chain length on opposite sides of each pin the bosses will ride off the enlarged portion and allow the links on the pin to be drawn laterally closer together, the ends of the outside links on each pin provided with outwardly facing transverse notches, heads on the opposite end portions of each pin receivable in said notches when the links are disposed in spread apart position by the bearing of said bosses on said enlarged portions, each pin having an extension beyond one of the heads thereon,

and means disconnectedly coupling the extension of each pin to one of said track engaging members.

15. The combination with a plurality of conveyer trolleys having means adapted to roll along a track and suspend the trolleys therefrom, a plurality of links of the same construction arranged in pairs with the ends of each pair overlapping upon the ends of each adjacent pair, each link being slotted longitudinally and provided with an angular intermediate portion disposing the end sections of the link so that they extend in different but substantially parallel planes, a plurality of pins, means disconnectedly coupling one end of each pin to a conveyer trolley so that the pins depend therefrom when the trolleys are suspended from a track, said pins extending through the slots in the overlapping ends of the links and connecting the links together into a chain length, said pins each provided with a head adjacent each end thereof and further provided with an enlarged portion between and equally spaced from the heads having such a dimensionthat no matter in what position the pin is turned relative to the links it will not fit through the slots thereof, the end sections of the inside links on each pin provided with bosses bearing on the enlarged portion of the pin but so shaped that when the chain length is collapsed on opposite sides of the pin the bosses will ride ofi the enlarged portion and allow the links on the pin to be drawn closer together, and the end sections of the outside links on each pin provided with outwardly facing notches adapted to receive said heads when the bosses of the inside links bear on said enlarged portion of the pin and interlock the outside ends of the links to the pin.

HARRY J. SWIHAR'I. GEORGE W. BARRY. 

